Red Mosquito

evenslow wrote:

Kevin Davis wrote:I'm obviously in the minority who thinks "Animal" is kind of a nothing song -- a nice riff-groove and some better-than-average Angry Eddie screaming, perfect when I'm in the mood for that sort of thing, which gets rarer with each passing year. But musically this song is as empty underneath all its surface grit as "Pendulum" is under all its sound effects. Vote for "Go" in a landslide.

I'd be hard-pressed to find something I disagreed with more than this sentiment about Animal. It's like saying AC/DC blows b/c it's all "surface grit." Animal is like a sped-up version of that muscular rock, with a Stone-provided funky spin. And like AC/DC, it's all about the intensity and musicianship in the (deceptively simple) playing. Oh, and just one of the great rock vocalists delivering in spades with trademark 1993 charisma and full-throated power.

COME ON MAN!!!!

tragabigzanda wrote:

Kevin Davis wrote:

tragabigzanda wrote:This is the worst post you've ever made, KD.

Oh, I can't imagine this is true -- surely I've gotten overly precious about some stupid pedantic bullshit, or made some ill-fated attempts at humor, that led to posts far worse than my unpopular but honest and ultimately correct post in this thread. No doubt "Animal" is a powerful performance, and the band is locked into a solid groove, but as someone who generally prizes things like melody, harmony, texture, etc. over these kinds of raw energy songs, "Animal" doesn't really have a lot going on. Happy to entertain discussion to the contrary.

The bold part is very un-KD of you. This tourney is tearing us apart...

Re: melody, harmony, and texture: The song has a terrific melody. It's simple, and it repeats itself as the bass line and chords change against it, creating wonderful tension. There's no harmony to be found, but then neither is there in Go. And texture? Jesus christ, this song has it in spades. The dirty guitar riff, the funky octave diads going on during the chorus, and Ed's vocals that sound simultaneously like a caged animal and a disembodied ghost.

tragabigzanda wrote:

Kevin Davis wrote:

tragabigzanda wrote:This is the worst post you've ever made, KD.

Oh, I can't imagine this is true -- surely I've gotten overly precious about some stupid pedantic bullshit, or made some ill-fated attempts at humor, that led to posts far worse than my unpopular but honest and ultimately correct post in this thread. No doubt "Animal" is a powerful performance, and the band is locked into a solid groove, but as someone who generally prizes things like melody, harmony, texture, etc. over these kinds of raw energy songs, "Animal" doesn't really have a lot going on. Happy to entertain discussion to the contrary.

The bold part is very un-KD of you. This tourney is tearing us apart...

Re: melody, harmony, and texture: The song has a terrific melody. It's simple, and it repeats itself as the bass line and chords change against it, creating wonderful tension. There's no harmony to be found, but then neither is there in Go. And texture? Jesus christ, this song has it in spades. The dirty guitar riff, the funky octave diads going on during the chorus, and Ed's vocals that sound simultaneously like a caged animal and a disembodied ghost.

durdencommatyler wrote:

tragabigzanda wrote:

Kevin Davis wrote:

tragabigzanda wrote:This is the worst post you've ever made, KD.

Oh, I can't imagine this is true -- surely I've gotten overly precious about some stupid pedantic bullshit, or made some ill-fated attempts at humor, that led to posts far worse than my unpopular but honest and ultimately correct post in this thread. No doubt "Animal" is a powerful performance, and the band is locked into a solid groove, but as someone who generally prizes things like melody, harmony, texture, etc. over these kinds of raw energy songs, "Animal" doesn't really have a lot going on. Happy to entertain discussion to the contrary.

The bold part is very un-KD of you. This tourney is tearing us apart...

Re: melody, harmony, and texture: The song has a terrific melody. It's simple, and it repeats itself as the bass line and chords change against it, creating wonderful tension. There's no harmony to be found, but then neither is there in Go. And texture? Jesus christ, this song has it in spades. The dirty guitar riff, the funky octave diads going on during the chorus, and Ed's vocals that sound simultaneously like a caged animal and a disembodied ghost.

Kiss me, you fool!

cutuphalfdead wrote:I don't hate Animal the way KD does, but he has a point. It's one of the band's more overrated songs.

"Animal" is a very one-note song -- it does what it does well and right, but in the end it doesn't do much. Crowning it the greatest song in Pearl Jam's catalog would be like calling Bill Laimbeer the greatest player in the history of the NBA -- his sheer brawn and raw agression is great as long as he is surrounded by other players who can do other things, but when it comes time to give out the MVP trophy, a Michael or a Magic (a "Brain of J" or "Last Exit," if you will) can summon power when necessary but is also quicker, more precise, and overall better-rounded.

stip wrote:KD, how is Go more compositionally interesting? this is a genuine question.

Bammer wrote:This is like asking me to choose my favorite twin son.

stip wrote:KD, how is Go more compositionally interesting? this is a genuine question.

LetMeSleep wrote:PJ songs written by drummers are always cooler. Dorks.